24 May 2004	Monday	04 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

QUETTA, May 23: National Party Secretary-General Mir Hasil Bizenjo has said that the government should take the people of Balochistan into confidence on the mega projects as masses would not accept any major project without their consent.

In a statement issued here on Sunday, the Baloch nationalist politician stressed that the government should change its attitude of ignoring the sentiments of the people who have apprehensions about the uplift programme launched in the coastal belt of the province.

Mr Bizenjo said the National Party would not compromise on its principled stand on the mega projects, and maintained that the government's unilateral decision to go ahead with the projects would push the province towards uncertainty, which would not be in the interest of the country.

The National Party leader claimed that federal control over the federal coastal development authority bypassing the province created suspicion as to why the elected representatives of Balochistan were totally ignored in the large-scale projects in Gwadar and other coastal areas.

He reiterated that huge investment in Gwadar without the participation of the natives would imbalance the population ratio that would turn the locals into minority.